Gender in 2017: Meeting the needs of gender diverse children and young people with mental health difficulties

This topical conference will be exploring the links between mental health and gender diversity. There will be contributions from nationally acclaimed speakers who will be sharing messages from their research and clinical practice about the context of young people exploring gender issues, the impact on their mental health and ways of meeting their psychological, social and medical needs.

These key note speeches will be complemented by a range of practical workshops to enable clinicians to explore different aspects of work with this client group, alongside discussing dilemmas from their own clinical practice.

Dr Polly Carmichael

Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Director of the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) for Children and Adolescents at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.

She joined the GIDS in 2001 and was appointed Director of the service in 2009. In 2009 the service was nationally designated to provide a national service for young people experiencing gender dysphoria.

Dr Carmichael is keen to raise awareness and understanding of the particular issues young people experiencing gender dysphoria face and to this end she regularly takes part in training events around the country, particularly in collaboration with the third sector.

Since 1997 Dr Carmichael has also worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust where she is part of a well established multidisciplinary team specialising in differences of sex development (DSD), otherwise referred to as intersex, conditions.

Dr Carmichael has a particular interest in research with extensive experience in both paediatrics and gender dysphoria.

Dr Jay Stewart

Jay Stewart has been involved in the trans community since 2002 and delivered his first arts-based project for young trans people in 2004. Since then, he’s been passionate about improving the lives of trans and gender questioning people, especially young people.

In 2008, he co-founded Gendered Intelligence alongside Dr Catherine McNamara and now acts as its CEO. Gendered Intelligence provides activities, support, training and resources for the trans community and all those who work with or support trans people.

Jay Stewart’s PhD was carried out in the department of Visual Cultures at Goldsmiths College. The thesis is entitled “Trans on Telly: Popular Documentary and the Production of Transgender Knowledge” and explores understandings of trans identities through mainstream televisual documentaries.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List for services to the trans community.

Dr Ruth Bevan

Consultant in Gender Dysphoria

Ruth is trained as a Psychiatrist in Intellectual Disabilities and has previously worked in Children and Young People’s Services. Ruth has a special interest in Gender Dysphoria in those with an intellectual disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder, and is particularly interested in the complex interplay between Autism, identity and gender. Ruth currently researches, teaches and presents on this issue and is a member of The Royal College of Psychiatrist’s Autism Interest Group.